Radio loud speaker and lamp



Feb. 9, 1932. o. M. RAU

RADIO LOUD SPEAKER AND LAMP Filed .May 17 1927 F/GJ :L'MMI i 0H0 m: Ra.

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 PATENT OFFICE...

o'r'ro M. RAU, or PHILADELIHIA, PENNSYLVANIA namo LOUD SPEAKER AND LAMBApplication filed May 17,

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of loud speakerfor radio apparatus which may constitute a part of an electrlc standingor table lamp fixture and, more 5 particularly, to constitute the shadethereof or to be so intimately positioned within the shade that it isunobtrusive or shielded, whereby the presence of the loud speaker is notsuspected.

My object is further to so position the loud speaker as to elevation andposition that direct sound vibrations are not transmitted from it to thepersons, present in the room, but, on the other hand, the perimeter ofthe 15 loud speaker shall so he in a horizontal or substantiallyhorizontal plane that the reproduction will reach the ear of thosepresent in a subdued but clear and more naturaleffect than would bepossible by the direct sound vibrations.

My object is also to construct the loud speaker of a transparent ortranslucent material so that if the same constitutes the lamp shadeproper or is interposed between the lights and a surrounding lamp shadeof ordinary construction, the luminosity from the lights through theloud speaker diaphragm will be effective and may eliminate the necessityfor the ordinary lamp shade structure.

My object is further to so combine a light ing fixture with a loudspeaker that the direct sound waves from the diaphragm of the loudspeaker will be transmitted in a more or less vertical direction fromboth above and below the diaphragm, and'whereby the more subdued lateralvibrations arising therefrom will effectively reach the ears of thosepresent and occupying positions at the sides of the lamp fixture.

My object is also to combine a loud speaker disk or diaphragm withheating means whereby it retains its tension and responsiveness to rapidvibration, irrespective of the humidity conditions of the surroundingair.

With the above and other objects in View, the nature of which will bemore fully understood from the description hereinafter, the in ventionconsists in the novel construction of '60 radio loud speaker and lamp,ashereinafter 1927. Serial No. 191,994.

more fully described and defined in the claims. r

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view, with part in section,of a standing lamp and shade with my improvements applied thereto; Fig.2 is a similar view of a table lamp, but showing a modification of myinvention; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangementof; the electric circuits of the lamp and loud speaker features embodiedin my improvements; and Fig. 4. is an elevation of a modification of myinvention.

Referring to Fig. 1, 2 is the upright stand or pedestal and may be ofany suitable construction such as is commonly employed in electricstanding lamps. By way of illustration, the electric equipment of thelamp is indicated by the lamp sockets 3, 3, and the electric bulbs'i, 4,the same being attached by suitable coupling means with the upper partof the stand 2.

Secured at the upper part of the pedestal 2 above the electric bulbs isa bracket 6upon which is supported the frame 5 of the operatingvibrating mechanism of the loud speaker, the same having a connectionwith the center of the vibrating diaphragm 7 thereof by the usual means8.

Theloud speaker proper is of a more or less flattened cone-shapeddiskand is sus pended from the parts 5 and6 by the .con-

nection 7a, or in any suitable manner, sothat' its vibration is notinterfered 'with. As shown this cone-shaped disk is arranged with itsgreatest diameter in'a horizontal plane so that, in a measure, itsimulates a lamp shade over the electric bulbs.

As a further feature of my invention, I may arrange above the loudspeaker diaphragm 7, a lamp shade 15, the same being supported by asuitable bracket secured to the upper part of the pedestal. In theparticular means shown, the angular arms 10, 11 V and 12 extend from thebracket 6 and encircle about the loud speaker disk 7 and unite in acentral connection 13 immediately over the apex of the loud speaker andsupporting the central portion 14; of the lampshade 15 in any suitablemanner, In this construction,

the su porting means and the lamp shade are entire y clear of the loudspeaker diaphragm 7 to suchan extent as to not interfere with itsvibration.

The lamp shade 15 has its periIneter preferably above the perimeter ofthe loud speaker disk and, for shielding purposes, the lamp shade may beprovided with a downwardly extending fringe 16 which, while shieldingthe loud speaker from view, does not interfere materially with thepropagation of the sound vibrations in a more or less horizontaldirection from the erimeter of the loud speaker; It will be un erstoodthat the perimeter 9 of the loud speaker 7 .may be attached directlytothe bracket 10 where the same is used to support the lamp shade. In thisconstruction, the lamp shade may be of any shape desired, although forpurposes of illustration, it is indicated ascorresponding in shape tothe cone-shaped disk of the loud speaker.

In the construction shown inFig. 2, 2ais a table lamp base of anysuitable ornamental shape and provided with the upright pedestalextension v2 for supporting the electric lights, as before explained,and in this illustration, the loud speaker conical disk 7 is sustainedat its perimeter by a light open bracket structure15a from the perimeterof which a light fringe 16 may depend to give to the conical loudspeaker disk the effectiveness in design to a lamp shade. In this case,the disk 7 may. be of translucent material, such as varnished paper, andmay be ornamented artistically in any manner desired, so that the lightfrom the 7 electric lamps may be transmitted through it with artisticresults.

i The presence of the electric lighting means of the lamp .disarms theobserver-from the supposition that the fixture is anything but a lampitself, and the same is also true of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

By arranging the loud speaker with its perimeter lying in a horizontalplane, the sound transmission is more subdued and clearer than where theloud speaker has its largewdiameter arranged in a vertical plane, ascommonl employed. In the present construction, tie more intensevibrations inrparted to the air are transmitted in a vertical directiondownward to the floor 'orrtable and are reflected back in an upwarddirection with the attendant travel laterally of the sound waves, whichgreatly improves the results to the listener who is naturally positioned to one side of the loud speaker and more or less in a horizontalplane of its largestdiame'ter. r

In Fig. 3, I have indicated thevariouselectric circuits which would beemployed in connection with the combined lamp and loud speakerillustrated in Figs.1and 2. The radio vibrator for operating the loudspeaker would be energized by the current received through the verticalwires 19 and the flexible ifest that, if desired, the electric wiring ofthe combined lamp and loud speaker may term'inate in sockets on the lamppedestal and with which flexible conductor cords may be suitablycoupled;

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modification of the assembly of the electriclighting, the loud speaker and the lamp shade in respect totheir mutualattachment and support and by which the several parts may be adapted toa tallstand as inFi'g. 1, or to alow table lamp structure as in Fig. 2.c It will be noted that in Fig. 1, the lamp supporting means for theshade is. of an extended nature formed by the bar portions 10 and 11surrounding the loud speaker 7, whereas in Fig. 2, thefringe of theshade frame is secured within and below the loud speaker. In themodification shown in Fig. 4, the loud speaker 7 and its operative parts8 and5 are brought further down to ward the sockets?) of the electriclights, thereby greatly reducing the intermediate portion 6, andthesupport for the shade '15 is extended.

upward through the loud speakerto provide a central means of attachmentfor the shade. More specifically, the shade 15 may be made as shown inFig. l and has its central wire portion 14 secured to a Y shaped centralconnection 13 having its lateral arms lla ex tended downward throughapertures 7b in the loud speaker and connected to the casing or. frame 5containing the electro-magnetic means for operating the loud speaker,said casing itself directly connected throu h the part 6 with the standor support2. t will be seen from Fig. 4, that the mechanism ems bodiedinthis assembly is very compact and simple. As further explanation, itwill be seen that the inverted U shaped structure formed by the parts11a and 13 has its lateral arms extended downwardly and .detachablysecured in place by screws 5a. By reason of this construction, the loudspeaker 7" may be positioned upon'its supporting and vibrating means 5and thereafter the shades'upportconnected in position as shown. c

As a further feature of my construction shown in Fig. 4;, the part 2 maybe disconnectible from the lower part 26 ofthe stand and the electricconductors 18 and 20 respectively having terminals 21 and 22may extendfrom the part 2 for convenient connection with the radio cabinet. R Inthis'connection, the upper part of my improved loud speaker lamp. may beadjusted to any other position in the room adaptedto receive it, or, infact, it maybe held in the hand, and in that, case the lamp shade 15 maybe removed from its support 13. The diaphragm or disk of the loudspeaker being arranged over the electric lights, is caused to be heatedto such an extent as will insure it against sluggishness in soundvibrations which otherwise is caused by atmospheric changes in humidity.This heating of the diaphragm or disk keeps it in a fine state oftension, so as to be very responsive to slight vibrations, andconsequently effective inreproduction of the higher overtones.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and usefulconstruction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable, and while I have in the present instance shown and describedthe preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice togive satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that I donot restrict myself to the details, as the same are susceptible ofmodification in various particulars without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1s:

1. An upright support adapted to stand upon the floor or table providedat its upper portion with a cone-shaped loud speaker disk in which thelargest diameter is arranged in a substantially horizontal plane, thesaid support extending from a point below and close to the loud speakerwhereat it is provided with electric lighting devices, to a point abovethe loud speaker disk for providing a supporting means for attachment ofa shade.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the loud speakerdisk is provided with vibrating mechanism and with one or more aperturesnear its center and in which the support is extended through theapertures in the loud speaker disk without contact therewith andproviding means for attachment of a shade.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the upper end ofthe support extends through the central portion of the conical end ofthe loud speaker, said extended support providing means for attachmentof a shade.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein further, the loud speakeris provided with vibrating mechanism and the upper end of the support isextended to a position above the cone-shaped loud speaker and adjacentto the axis thereof, said support having a connection with the framecontaining the vibrating mechanism for the loud speaker and alsoproviding a supporting means for attachment of a shade.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

OTTO M. RAU.

